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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q.
When's a good time for A Gift of Poetry?
Q. Do you have a money back
guarantee?
Q.
What if I don't like the first
draft?
Q. How long will my poem be?
Q. How do I pay you? What are
the payment terms?
Q. Can I pay over the phone?
Q. What do your clients think
about you?
Q. Will I get value for money?
Q.
Why offer a prepayment discount?
Q. Do you have any
other special offers?
Q. Why should I go with you?
Q.
Will you treat me like a number?
Q.
Will you meet my time frames?
Q.
What does the process involve?
Q.
How long will my poem take?
Q.
Why do you have a quick decision
bonus?
Q:
How much will my poem cost?
Q:
What
benefits are included in each package?
Q:
How
much detail do you require?
Q.
How can I trust you? Is this a scam?
Q:
Will my request be published on this site?
Q:
What about you?
Q.
What do you
look like?
Q. When's
a good time for A Gift of Poetry?
A Gift of Poetry is suitable for every
occasion and circumstance. You will find it an excellent way of saying
"I love you" or "thank you" but you can also use your gift to send much more serious
and heartfelt messages, of which there are many examples on the site.
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Q. Do you have a money back
guarantee?
Yes, I guarantee complete satisfaction (or you get your
money back).
This is a creative process and artistically, what pleases
one person may not please the other. However, I do get it "right" 19 out
of 20 times (so on average, I return the client's deposit on every 20th
poem).
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Q. What if I don't like the
first
draft?
Then I will rewrite your poem until you are
happy with the outcome. It normally takes two to three drafts to get a poem
exactly right and this is a collaborative process. For the record, my personal
best (or worst) is nine drafts (but we got there in the end).
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Q. How long will my poem be?
It depends on how much there is to say.
I do
not charge by the length and some of my poems can run to 30 verses (although I
feel that these can be a little long). As an average expect somewhere between 15
and 20 verses, but it does depend on the subject matter.
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Q. How do I pay you?
What are
the payment terms?
Can I pay over the phone?
There are payment options on site operated by highly respected third parties
(WorldPay and PayPal). I ask for a deposit up front and
only ask for the balance when you are happy with your final draft. If you don't
like using credit cards online then you can also phone in or fax the details.
I
will call you back in person.
Phone: USA + CANADA TOLL FREE 1-800-307-4174
or 514-409-2751
Fax: USA + CANADA TOLL FREE 1-800-307-4751
or 514-409-2752
(Please
note the 1-800 numbers cannot be accessed from
outside
the US and Canada)
Phone: UK 01206 385397
You can also pay by check or money order but that
does slow down the process somewhat. I'm sorry, but I do have to
insist on the deposit "up front" as this is my only method of sorting the
"wheat" from the "chaff".
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Q. What do your clients think
about you?
Generally they are very pleased with my work. I
currently achieve a 95% satisfaction rating. I operate a money back guarantee
system so I do actually refund the deposit for about 1 in 20 - but as the saying
goes: You can't please all of the people all of the time.
It is also a no quibble guarantee - if people
are not happy then they get their deposit back (and I resolve to try harder next
time).
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Q. How do I know that you will
deliver what you promise? Will I get value for money?
My track record speaks for itself and the many,
many customer testimonials are my testament. I have been offering this service
since 1998, which in Internet terms is a lifetime. Complaints are rare and those
received are dealt with in a professional and adult manner.
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Q. Why offer
a
prepayment
discount?
14 - 20% does seem high I know. But I think I've
done my sums correctly. The credit card companies hit me twice for the two
transactions (deposit and balance), the administration costs are certainly
cheaper and my overdraft charges are reduced. I also offer a no
quibble money back guarantee.
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Q. I'm
getting married. Do you have any
special offers?
Yes, I
offer a "Wedding Day Special", three poems for the price of two. Actually, you
don't need to be getting married to take advantage of this offer, but it is
particularly suited for wedding days as there is so much to say (to your
partner, your parents, your guests etc.). Can be used for invitations, vows, speeches,
toasts, as a thank you to parents, a gift for your partner
etc. Great value, you save over $78.50 off the
normal prices:
Just mention "Wedding Day Special" on the
first request.
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Q. Why
should I go with you?
I am pleased to report that
this is one of the most popular poetry sites in the world and the only place where you will get an original, handwritten "Jesson" poem. I write every poem from scratch and although on the cheaper packages I may
borrow a verse or two, every poem is unique.
Guaranteed.
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Q. You must get a lot of
requests, how do I know that you won't
treat me like a number?
I manage my workload so that I can give you and
your poem the attention that you deserve. I think of every one of my poems as
"special" so I treat them (and you) as such. I have also recently
"retired" from the rat race to concentrate full time on my writing and
Internet Marketing career.
Believe me, you have my (and my bank manager's) undivided attention :)
(PS. Help
! :)
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Q. How do I know you can you
deliver to
meet my time frames?
I work within strictly promised timelines. It
is part of my promise. If you have a tighter deadline than advertised then I
will pull out the stops for you.
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Q. How long will my
poem take?
It depends on the package that you choose, you
could have your first draft within 48 hours from now.
Even with the Economy Package you will receive your first draft
within 7 days. Physical delivery normally takes about four to seven days once
the drafting process is complete. We now ship direct from the USA and use the US
Postal Service with full tracking. We also ship direct from the UK, the cost of
which is included in the price.
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Q. What does the
process involve?
It is easy to order your
poem. Please follow this link here.
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Q:
How much will my poem cost?
What
benefits are included in each package?
Full pricing and package details are here
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Q:
How
much detail do you require?
The more information given - the more personal the poem !
If
you get stuck on a question then please ignore it, but
please try to give as much information,
history and background as you can.
Thanks. The POEM REQUEST FORM is
here, these are the questions that you will be asked: Who
are you ? Who
do you want the poem written for ? Why
do you want the poem written ? What
are the key messages you would like the poem to send ? Do
you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that
you would like to share ? Do
you have any other comments or thoughts ? What
style of poem would you prefer ? (Happy, sad, romantic etc.)
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Q. How can I trust you?
Is this a scam?
As I've said, this is one of the top 60,000 web-sites in the
world. You can trust me. This is not a scam. I make a
modest living from writing poetry for people such as yourself. My phone number and address details
are clearly displayed on the site. Payment is made via trusted third parties so
you will always have the right of refusing payment or claiming a refund. I have
a long standing verified
PayPal
account, my book is sold on
Amazon.com and I have many, many satisfied
customers. I don't generally post their contact details on the site (unless
they ask me to), but I'm happy to provide
referees if asked.
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Q:
If I request a poem, will my request and
the poem be published on this site?
Only
on your say so. I have written many poems that are never published. If you do
not give permission then the poem will not be published. Guaranteed.
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Why did you start to write poems?
I guess it started at school
really, you know - please write a poem for homework, that sort of stuff. Well,
I found writing poetry relatively "easy" and the results were reasonably
encouraging. So I did what every self respecting teenager would do - nothing.
I basically didn't write another line for about twenty years. I then went on a
Leadership course and we were encouraged to get in touch with "ourselves". As
a result, one of the things I did was write a couple of poems, I showed them
to a couple of friends and family and they foolishly encouraged me to continue
writing. That was ten years ago and what you see on this site
is a result of an initial challenge (by Humphrey Armstrong, the course leader)
and the subsequent encouragement from friends and family. (I have often
wondered what could be achieved in this world if we all challenged and
encouraged more often, especially our children). In 1998 I hooked up to the
Internet and purchased a book "How to build your web-site in 24 hours". Four
months (!) later, I had my first web-site up and running and waited for the
mass of visitors to come and view my work. Of course, nothing happened and the
counter increased every time I visited, but not much more. It was then I
struck on the idea of writing poems for charity, because I had already started
writing poems for friends and family's weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.
I approached a couple of "Free Sites" to feature my site and was literally
flooded with requests. So much so, we formed a loose group (Poets For People)
of like minded poets who gave their time for charity. We did this for a couple
of years but became increasingly frustrated with people who would request the
poem, receive the poem and then we would hear nothing back whatsoever, not so
much as a thank you. This became soul destroying after a while so I decided to
"commercialize" the site and charge people up front (I then donate a
percentage of the
proceeds to various charities around the world). This has worked really well
and the popularity of the site is outstanding. A Gift Of Poetry is now attracting over
10000 visitors per day and is growing
every month !
What is your background?
Pretty normal stuff really. Born in
1958 in Northampton, England. Born in a council house (government owned) but Mum and Dad bought
their first house in 1960 (Mum still lives there today). Great parents, two
great older brothers, strong family environment. Went to Raeburn Road Primary (Tin
Tack, so called because it was made of tin and tacks), Parklands Primary, Cherry Orchard High School and Northampton
Grammar School.
Went off the rails a lot as a teenager
and Dad died when I was only 15. A very painful experience but one that has
bound the remaining family tightly together, even though we live so very far
apart. (I emigrated from England to Australia in 1991, after marrying an
Australian girl in 1985). I now share my time between the UK and
Australia and intend to spend more time in Africa and the States.
Left school three weeks early (at 16)
and started work the following Monday for Gelders Spetra, a European transport
company. Stayed in transport and logistics for best part of 30 years and that paid
the bills (most of the time). Resigned from the "rat race" in December 2002 to
concentrate on poetry (and other interesting projects).
What are your general thoughts
on your poetry?
My poetry will never be
critically acclaimed - I know and accept that. However, a lot of people seem
to like my style and I see it as "everyman" poetry. I genuinely do try and
write "from the heart" and know that when I pull a tear or an "ah-ha" then I
have done OK. I also like to feel that maybe some of my poetry can help people
and for example, that is one of the reasons I have
Footprints as a featured poem on the site, as it may help someone realize
the aftermath created by taking their own life.
What is your favorite subject
and why do
you write poems like you do?
A very good question and
very hard to answer. I have not read a lot of other poets work, so I can
safely say that I have not copied anyone's particular style. I will literally
write a poem about anything,
The Worm
Ode is good proof of that statement ! I won't write a poem if it doesn't
have anything to say, I must think of a dozen poems a week that I could write
but discard the idea because they would have no real meaning or message.
Poetry has a lot to do with emotion so I like a subject where that emotion is
evident or easily aroused. For example, I wrote
A Harbour
View after being in Australia for a couple of years after realizing that
most Australians generally take for granted their wonderful country.
If you are interested, there are more of
my thoughts on my writing here.
There are even
more
here.
Best Movies?
For the record, this is the start of the list of my top 20 movies (not in order
of preference, too hard to sort) :
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
(Jack Nicholson)
It's A Wonderful Life (1943)
Shawshank Redemption (Morgan
Freeman)
28 Days (Sandra Bullock)
Something About Mary (Cameron
Diaz)
Bicentennial Man (Robin
Williams)
I.T. (Steven Spielberg)
The Sound of Music (Julie
Andrews)
Life As A House (Kevin Kline)
Cool Hand Luke (Paul Newman)
The Great Escape (Steve McQueen)
Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks)
Train-spotting
Blow (Johnny Depp)
Sea Biscuit (Jeff Bridges)
Love Actually (Hugh Grant)
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Favourite Singers
Harry Chapin
Jim Croce
Tracy Chapman
Favourite Band
Queen
Favourite Songs/Music/Hymns
Four Two Dollar Bills
(Leslie Wright/Allen Jesson)
Story Of A Life (Harry Chapin)
Piano Man (Billy Joel)
Mandolin Wind (Rod Stewart)
Time In A Bottle (Jim Croce)
Sweet Painted Lady (Elton John)
Serenade for Strings in E Minor, Opus 20 (second
movement)
(Sir Edward Elgar)
Jerusalem (Hymn)
and many, many more.....
Mentors
Harry Chapin
Billy Connolly
Goethe
Where do you live?
East Mersea, Essex, England and
Stanwell Park, New South Wales,
Australia.
How old are you?
47 going on 17
Best books?
Fiction: Papillon by Henri
Charriere.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Early stuff by Wilbur Smith.
Recent "faction": Michael Moore
(Dude, where's my country?)
and John Simpson (The Wars
Against Saddam)
Like to eat?
Would like to be vegetarian but
can't resist a barbeque.
Like to drink?
Cabernet Sauvignon from
the Coonawarra, South Australia.
Three wisest words?
Everything in moderation.
Favorite pastimes?
Writing. This website.
Family stuff. Having a beer with good friends.
Most important things in life?
Knowing what is important
in life.
Bad Habits?
Too many !
Too frequent smoker, weekend
drinker,
loved a bet.
2007 update. Running in the London Marathon in
April 2007. Pleased to report that I gave up
smoking (for good) in September 2005 and am not
drinking (alcohol) for the six months leading up to the marathon. More can
regular updates of my progress can be found at my blog:
http://allenjesson.blogspot.com/
Good Habits?
Not doing the bad habits
too often !
Proud Of?
My children.
Not So Proud Of?
My stomach.
Regrets?
Too few to mention (sorry
Frank)
Worst Day?
When Dad died (he was 46)
Best Days?
When my children were
born. Second wedding day.
Marital Status?
Divorced with four children.
Remarried.
Why Divorce?
An Open Heart
Why Remarry?
The Willow
Favorite poems?
Footprints
The 19 Year Old
The Worldishman
Pearls of Wisdom
See them all
Best TV Show?
The Simpsons
Reading at the moment?
Footprints :)
Q. What do you
look like?
Allen Jesson
If you have any other
questions not answered here, please send an e-mail here.
Thank you. Also, if you've got this
far and have decided not to proceed with your order - I would value your
reasons as to why you didn't go ahead. Again, please send me an e-mail here.
Thank you. Allen
Contact:
E-Mail
Postal:
Allen Jesson,
A Gift of Poetry,
"Freshfields",
East Mersea,
Nr. Colchester,
Essex CO5 8TA
England
Telephone:
++44 1206 385397
We also have an office in
Florida, USA.
USA +
CANADA TOLL FREE
1-800-307-4174 or 514-409-2751
(Please note 1-800 numbers cannot be accessed from outside the US and Canada)
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